Inspirational leaders

One outstanding student and
four exceptional alumnae will be
the recipients of the 2010 Monash University Distinguished
Alumni Awards.

Executive Chair, CEO and owner of the Sussan Group, Naomi Milgrom AO (BA 1973) is the
recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Trevor O'Hoy (BEc 1976),
who nominated Ms Milgrom, describes her as
"an iconic Australian business leader and a trailblazer for women in business".

For more than 20 years Ms Milgrom has led the Sussan Group, which today comprises the Sussan, Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl fashion chains and has more than 550 stores and more than 4500 employees in Australia and New Zealand.

"Naomi has led the promotion of Australia's retail
and fashion industries nationally and internationally.
Under her leadership the L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival became the world's largest consumer and retail fashion event.

"She has mobilised her business and entrepreneurial skills to make outstanding contributions. She is a benefactor to the arts, health, welfare, the Jewish community, science and education," Mr O'Hoy said.

The inaugural Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award will be presented to actor, writer and producer Jane Turner (BA 1988) in recognition of her contribution to comedy and television production.

Ms Turner began her career as a dramatic actress.
She turned to comedy appearing on the 'D Generation',
'Fast Forward', 'Full Frontal' and 'Big Girl's Blouse',
cementing her position as one of Australia's
foremost comediennes.

Jane Turner is best known as co-creator and co-star of the award winning comedy 'Kath & Kim'. The series was the most successful ABC syndicated show in Australian television history. In 2008, Ms Turner was an executive producer of the US version of the show.

The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Service Award goes to medical practitioner and media commentator Dr Sally Cockburn (MBBS 1982).

Dr Cockburn is a Melbourne GP and broadcaster
(as "Dr Feelgood") through her weekly program on radio 3AW. She volunteers extensively at Monash University.

Dr Cockburn was nominated by distinguished alumna Beth Wilson (BA 1975, LLB 1977) who said: "The stand out features of Dr Cockburn's personality are her excellent communication skills, her terrific sense of humour, her commitment to the community and the individuals within it, the pride she takes in her work, and her attachment to Monash University. She has been an inspiration to many students and colleagues."

Amanda McKenzie (LLB(Hons) 2007) will be the recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Ms McKenzie is co-director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, a youth-led and youth-run organisation that has linked 50,000 young Australians to influence action on climate change. Ms McKenzie led the Australian youth delegation to the United Nations Climate Conferences in Poznan in 2008 and Copenhagen in 2009.

In supporting her nomination Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser AC (MD 1969, HonLLD 2006) said: "Amanda has become an inspirational advocate for action on climate change and sustainability. Throughout her achievements, a theme emerges of a committed person who leads by example and motivates others, especially youth, to follow."

The inaugural Alumni Student Award, which recognises student contributions to the University, will be awarded to William Moore who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Global) at Monash South Africa. His nominator Allan Mahler (MDipl&Trade 2008) describes him as "an exceptional young man who has been tremendously involved in community engagement work in South Africa. His voluntary efforts have been outstanding.
He was a founder of the Monash Saturday School for disadvantaged students from the Zandspruit settlement and is the outstanding leader of the Monash University Student Volunteering Program."

The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony will take place later in 2010.